‘We believe in Batley’ says developer

Richard Binks inside one of the finished apartment in the Jubilee Mill.

Published:12:40Friday 20 February 2015

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A multi-million pound development which aims to restore Batley’s heritage could be completed by the end of next year.

Work to transform Batley’s 170-year-old Blakeridge Mill into 181 apartments - complete with a swimming pool, gym, supermarket and petrol station - is underway.

Binks Development, who owns the site, said the Blakeridge Mill Village could be completed by the end of 2016.

Managing director Richard Binks said: “We hope by the end of October this year the first 75 apartments will be finished.

“It will then take around another year to complete the rest of the Mill Village.

“We are convinced that we have an absolute gem here and there’s a real willingness to retain these beautiful old buildings.

“We believe in Batley - and there are people now who crave its heritage, they have had enough of student accommodation.”

Binks Developments’ proposals to develop the site were approved in November 2013 by Kirklees Council planning chiefs.

Mr Binks, 71, said: “The council has been very good working with us. There’s nobody else anywhere doing a big scheme like this and the council has realised that if we don’t do it, no one else will.

“We are building a community at the mill, we’ve created the ‘wow factor’ and people can’t wait to sign up once they have seen it.”

The finished development will be divided into three sets of apartments - the Jubilee Mill, off Mayman Lane, the Blakeridge Mill, off Blakeridge Lane, and 13 affordable apartments. The new apartments will complement Binks’ current Blakeridge Lane apartment blocks - which include Weaving House, Garden House, Sugar House and Sugar Mill. Mr Binks said around 30 flats had already been reserved.